Samantha joined Charles Sturt University as Associate Professor in Nursing in 2023 bringing with her experience as a businesswoman, researcher/academic, a critical care Registered Nurse, and a trained psychotherapist. She has built her academic and research profile through teaching, service and engagement, establishing strong relationships across education, health services and community.

The philosophy underpinning Samantha's practice, across all these areas, originates from the psychologist, Dr Carl Rogers: unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. Using this philosophy and her doctoral research as a base, she has made a significant contribution to the nursing profession and overall healthcare professional wellbeing through programs of education and research.

Samantha has published extensively and been successful in securing over $1,000,000 in category 1 grants to work with federal and state government health services, as well as with not-for-profit organisations.

Samantha’s key achievements include: development of a suite of e-learning modules for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA); introduction of Schwartz Rounds (a wellbeing program) to inter-disciplinary, higher education students; evaluation of the training and education program of a major NSW Health Local Health District; evaluation of the specialty nursing program for the PFCA for Department of Health and Ageing, and the development of a practice framework for Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses.

Samantha is passionate about the wellbeing and education of healthcare professionals, consumers and members of the community.

Samantha's research focuses on building capacity and capability in the Australian healthcare workforce. Her work falls under three main streams: wellbeing support and education of (1) healthcare professionals (HCP); (2) consumers and the (3) community. She has successfully secured category 1 grants to build evidence around the health service and how to support the wellbeing of the health workforce as well as the safety of consumers.

Her research interests specifically include wellbeing and education; healthcare student experience, including professional and transition to practice; inter-professional experience; empathy; compassion; workforce culture and retention.

Samantha has extensive experience in mixed method research including grounded theory and systematic reviews. She is a reviewer for multiple nursing and healthcare journals including Journal of Clinical Nursing, Collegian and European Journal of Cancer Care.

Samantha has forged national and international research collaborative relationships resulting in wellbeing interventions such as Schwartz Rounds, Compassionate Leadership and Empathy circles being adopted within higher education and healthcare facilities.

Samantha is the current Associate Head of School Research and Graduate Studies as well as Head of Discipline - Health Management and Leadership in the School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Health Sciences and has had extensive experience in research, supervision and course and subject development, curriculum design and accreditation at universities such as University of Technology Sydney and the Australian College of Nursing. 

Samantha has an excellent record in teaching and learning as illustrated through her leadership in teaching practice and scholarship, innovative approaches, together with enhanced student learning and improved student satisfaction.

Samantha has developed and delivered undergraduate and postgraduate clinical nursing courses and made significant contributions to education projects such as Distress Screening for Men with Prostate Cancer. She has partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to develop a suite of e-learning modules for mandatory training for Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses around Australia.

Samantha has woven her interest in wellbeing, compassion and empathy in healthcare through her education scholarship by introducing innovative and academically rigorous programs such as the Virtual Empathy Museum and Schwartz Rounds.

The Virtual Empathy Museum is an open access, digital educational resource supported by funding from an ATN Grant. 

Samantha introduced Schwartz Rounds™ to healthcare students at the University of Technology Sydney, the first in Australia. This reflective practice initiative used in the UK and US aimed at enhancing healthcare professional wellbeing and patient experience contributed positively to student learning outcomes and to the educational development of students, while also upskilling academics.

Samantha, with the Virtual Empathy Museum team was awarded an Australian Award for University Teaching citation in 2022 and the Faculty Learning and Teaching award in 2019.

Samantha is a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and Deputy Chair of the NSW/Sydney Region. She is also a member of the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) and the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN). 

Samantha is active in various other collaborative organisations such as the International Consortium of Occupational Resilience (ICOR) and Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE).